'Anti-Christ' is Already Here! Psalm 41:5-8

Text: “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that anti-Christ shall come, even now are there many anti-Christs; whereby we know that it is the last time.”

                                                                                                                     1 John 2:18.

Good morning, alert Christian!  When all around you seem to have gone asleep at their God-ordained post, you and I shall not permit ourselves to be lulled into a Spiritual stupor, a state of Spiritual unconsciousness and sloth.  No!  While many in ‘the church’ worldwide today can seem to be ‘watching’ for the appearance of Anti-Christ – you and I know from our Scriptures that the spirit of Anti-Christ is already here, and working increasingly hard to usher in Satan’s vile kingdom on earth.

“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
(1 Peter 5:8-9)

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  (Matthew 26:41)

Verses 5 to 8 of Psalm 41 reflect the spirit of Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ; and more specifically, the deeds perpetrated by anti-Christian adversaries of the believer’s soul.  

Verse 5. “Mine enemies speak evil of me.  The spirit of anti-Christ is often displayed by our enemies, not merely because they ‘speak evil’ of the Christ and the Christian, but that they do so falsely, in a most deceitful manner.  God forbid that the Christian should actually have some obvious weaknesses or faults, as we all most certainly do!

Verse 5.  “…When shall he/she die, and his/her name perish. The world can argue, oppose and fall out with other worldlings and even go to war with each other over social and political matters.  However, there is a particular depth of unwarranted hatred exercised when the unbelieving world targets the Christ, or the Christian – when this happens, and it does continually, the spirit of anti-Christ knows no hint of mercy as it levels its vitriol and evil hatred at the Christ and His people. 

“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  This wisdom descendeth not from Above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”   (James 3:14-16)

Verse 5.  “When shall he die, and his name perish? If persecutors could have their way, the church should have but one neck, and that should be on the block. Thieves would fain blow out all candles. The lights of the world are not the delights of the world.  Poor, blind bats, they fly at the lamp and try to dash it down.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 200)

“It is the name, the character, and privileges of a true servant of God that calls out the hatred of ungodly men, and they would gladly extirpate Him (Christ) from their sight.”  (W. Wilson 1860)

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers unto the false prophets.”  (Luke 6:26)

Anti-Christian detractors are inspired by their father, the Devil, and the works of the Devil they will do unto genuine Christian witnesses and ministers.

“Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lust of your father ye will do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there was no truth in him.  When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”  (John 8:44)

Verse 6. “And if he (the anti-Christian) come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.” 

Our Spirit-inspired Scriptures clearly teach us: “…By their fruits ye shall know them…” (Matthew 7:20)  Thus, the character traits depicted in Psalm 41: 5-8 show the ‘fruits’ of the anti-Christian spirit, and warn all genuine Christians to beware of them.

Verse 7.  “All that hate me (the Christ and the Christian) whisper together against me.  The spy meets his comrades in conclave (a secret place of meeting) and sets them all a whispering.  Why could they not speak out?  Were there afraid of the sick warrior?  Or were their designs so treacherous that they must needs be hatched in secrecy?”  

“Mark the animosity of the wicked – ALL.  How heartily the dogs unite to hunt the stag!  Would God we were half as united in holy labour as persecutors in their malicious projects, and were half as wise as they are crafty, for their whispering was craft as well as cowardice, the conspiracy must not be known till all is ready.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 200)

Verse 8.  “An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise no more.  This false report from the anti-Christian spirit, I see as more of a hoped for assumption than an actual medical diagnoses – thus revealing the depth of hatred felt by the oppressor, and the ruthlessness of his/her desire towards the righteous servant of God.

Mark well, the traits of the anti-Christ listed here, dear friends in Christ, for forewarned is also forearmed.  ‘Redeeming the time because the days are evil.’

Thought: The spirit of Anti-Christ is not a future event any more – it is already here!  Watch and pray, Blood-bought Christian!